Process and apparatus for forming the heel end of alpha sole



Nov. 1, 1932. A. J. BRAUER ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THEHEEL END OF A SOLE Filed Feb. 10, 1930 Miii Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR J. BRAUER AND FREDERICK P. WAGNER, OF ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING THE HEEL END OF A SOLEApplication filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,279.

This invention relates to the art'of makmg shoes, and more particularlyto-method and means for preparing the heel seat of the shoe. Thisapplication is a further embodiment of the method and apparatus of ourPatent No. 1,852,288, granted April 5, 1932. In accordance with theparticular embodiment described and shown in that patent, the heel endof the sole, while supported at the margin adjacent the breast line, issupported only for a limited extent in lines extending back from thebreast line and the cuts are correspondingly limited. This maynecessitat; the preliminary preparation of the sole en One of theobjects of this invention is to provide method and means whereby thesole may be formed without preliminary trimming.

Another object is to trim the sole not only at the sides but also at theback.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of mechanism adapted for performing the heelseatforming operation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a' view of the shoe bottom showing the heel seat formed; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the heel in place.

Generally stated and in accordance with this embodiment, the sole isconcurrently supported on both sides of the shoe and at the sole marginnot only adjacent the breast line but also back thereof to the end ofthe sole extension as formed and, in accordance with the embodimentillustrated, also at the back. Cuts are taken through the sole marginnormally against the supporting backing concurrently, not only at theends of the breast line but also along lines extending back from thebreast line to the end of the sole extension and, in the particularembodiment illustrated, also around the back.

Various mechanisms may be employed for performing the process, and thisprocess may even be performed by elemental devices or simplemanipulations; the process is, however, best performed by suitablemechanism. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, abacking die, preferably composed of a pair of relatively adjustablebacking die elements, extends inwardly to support the sole peripherallyon both sides adjacent the sole ;'margin and the breast line and back tothe end of the sole extension, and,

in the particular embodiment described, also at the back. A cutter,which may also be composed of relatively adjustable cutting elements, ispositioned to cut through the sole margin normally against and inside ofthe die; this die and cutter have co-operating cutting edges extendingoutwardly along the breast line and back from the breast line to the endof the sole extension, and, in the particular embodiment described, alsoaround the back.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4:, which illustrate a shoe of theMcKay-type, 7-designates the upper of a shoe which is lasted over theheel seat, as shown at 10, and, where employed over an insole 9, theupper being secured by fasteners 11 in the usual manner. An outsole 4 issecured by a line of stitches 12, which, in a McKay shoe, pass throughthe upper and insole.

In performing the process embodying this invention, the heel end of thesole need not 0 be preliminarily trimmed but can be left whollyunformed; it may or may not be secured 'by a tack 14 at the heel seat.In performing the operation, the sole is supported adjacent and back ofthe breast line on both 35 sides and back to the end of the soleextension 61 to be formed, and, if desired, also along the back. Cutsare then taken along the breast line to form shoulders 30, and 9 thesecuts extend back to the end of the sole 0 extension 61, and, if desiredand as hereinafter described, these cuts may also extend around the endof the sole extension.

The sole extension may, therefore, be completely formed for thereception of the heel 21, which as illustrated is of the Louis typeprovided with a covering, a breast 20, and a top lift 22. This heel maybe positioned against the shoulders 30 at the breast line and, afterbemg secured, the usual flap 62 miy be pasted against the breast.

igs. 1 and 2 show mechanism adapted for the formation of the extensionor tongue portion 61 to the shoulders 30. It comprises a base havingposts 36 and 37, the latter being movable 1n guides 38 on the base so asto be shiftable or adjustable towards and from the former. A lever 39ivoted at 40 on the guide 38 and having a s 0t 41 engaging a pin on 37,is arranged to provide for moving the post 37. Mounted on each of theposts 36 and 37 is a backing die element 43 adapted for engagement withco-operating cutter elements 44. Each of these cutters 44 is mounted ona head 45 held in a raised osition by sprin s 46 and guided by pins 4 aswell as a ditional pins (not shown) encircled by the springs 46. Thisbase 35 may be placed on a suitable'press provided with a movable ram(not shown ut as shown in Patent No. 1,852,288) adapted to engage theheads 45 in order to cause the cutters 44 to engage the die elements 43.The ends of the cutters 43 are reduced in thickness and preferablybeveled so as to readily take into the crease between the upper and theextensions of the sole where the sole is attached at the heel. In thisembodiment, however, each of the die elements 43 has an inward extension63, while each of the cutters 44 has an inward extension 64; moreover,each of the heads 45 has an extension embracing the cutter part 64. Itwill be seen that the edges of the die and cutter elements extend to theend of the sole extension when trimmed. The function of the cutter parts63 and 64 is to terminally reduce "or cut ofi the end of the extension61.

In the operation of the mechanism for per forming the process, the heelis placed on the shoe and the breast line is marked thereon. The flap orpart 62 when present is then turned back and the shoe placed between thedie elements 43, with the breast line as marked on the sole part 61coinciding with the forward edges of the elements and with these cutterspressed between the creases between the u per and the sole extensions ifthe latter is tac ed to the upper. In this embodiment the cutterextensions 63 and 64 act as stops to space the inside edges of thecutters 43 to correspond to theheel. The heads 45 are then depressed,thereby operating to not only marginall correspon to the heel, but alsoto terminally reduce or cut off this extension to the required length soas to fit the heel. 7

It will be noted that in accordance with this invention the die cuttingelements 43 and 44 are moved inwardly until they are arrested by theirstops accordingly the width of the extension is accurately predeterminedto correspond to the heel while the len h of the extension is alsopredetermined. account reduce the sole extension 61 to.

of the beveled or even sharpened nature of the edges of the die elements43 and the leverage secured b the lever connection, these cutters can beorced into the creases between the sole and the up er to the requiredextent if the sole is tacke to the upper at the heel. The distancebetween the edges of the die elements 43 can betaken as a gauge of thewidth of the heel seat. It will, therefore, be seen that all handfitting can be eliminated.

As previously noted and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the movement 01 the0st 37 towards the post 36 can be, and is, imited in the particularembodiment by the engagement of the die and cutter elements. These, whentogether, determine not only the width of the sole extension but alsothe length of that extension: from the shoulders 30 to the end of theextension. With the parts in that position, the shoe with the solethereon can be moved into engagement with the die elements 43 whichextend inwardly, as well as the back portions 63 taking under the soleextension. hat is particularly true where, as in some classes of work,it is neither necessary nor desired to tack down the end of the soleextension, but rather to leave the same free. W'ith the sole thussupported from the breast line marginally to the end of the soleextension, and in the particular embodiment also around the back, thecutter elements will operate to completely form the sole extension. Itwill be noted that the cutter elements 00- operate with the inside edgesof the dieelements so that a clean cut will be secured without requiringthe I cutter elements to take against a backing extending completelyacross the sole extension. In this way, the life of the cutter elementedges is not only extended, but a cleaner cut will be secured.

While this invention is particularly applicable to shoes having thegeneral types of heels shown and described, it will be understood thatthis invention is applicable in many cases to other forms and types ofheels. It is further applicable to shoes having soles and bottoms ofdifferent types and attached by various means, whether by stitching,cement or even by metallic fasteners. It will furthermore be understoodthat certain features, operations and sub-combinations are of utilit andmay be employed withoutreference to at er features, operations andsub-combinations; that is contemplated by and is within the scope of theappended claims. It is moreover obvious that various changes may be madein the details of operations and constructions within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention; itis to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limitedto the specific details shown and or described.

A do

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The process of forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a soleWhile on a shoe, comprising, supporting the sole concurrently on bothsides of the shoe but only at the sole margin adjacent the breast lineand back thereof to a point defining the end of the tongue portion to beformed, and cutting through the sole margin normally against thesupporting backing concurrently at the ends of the breast line and alonglines extendingback from the breast line toward the end of the sole whenso supported.

2. The process of forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, supporting the sole concurrently on bothsides and at the back of the shoe but only at the sole margin adjacentthe breast line and back thereof to and around the end of the tongueportion to be formed, and Cutting though the sole margin normallyagainst the supporting backing concurrently at the ends of the breastline andalong lines extending back from the breast line to and aroundthe end of the tongue portion when the sole is so supported.

3. The process of forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, supporting the sole concurrently on bothsides of the shoe by a peripheral backing providing inside edgesadjacent and along the sole margin and the breast line and back thereofto a point defining the end of the tongue portion to be formed, andcutting through the sole margin normally against the inside edges of thesupporting backing at the ends of the breast line and along linesextending from the breast line toward the end of the sole when sosupported.

4. The process of forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, supporting the sole concurrently on bothsides and at the back of the shoe by a peripheral backing providinginside edges adjacent and along the sole margin and the breast line andback thereof to and around the end of the tongue portion to be formed,and cuttingthrough the sole margin normally against the inside edges ofthe supporting backing at the ends of the breast line and along linesextending from the breast line to and around the end of the tongueportion when the sole is so supported.

5. A machine for forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, backing means extending inwardly to provideinside edges supporting the sole peripherally on both sides adjacent thesole margin and the breast line and back thereof to a point defining theend of the tongue portion to be formed, and means for cutting throughthe sole margin normally against the inside edges of the supportingbacking at the ends of the breast line and along lines extending fromthe breast line toward the end of the sole when so supported.

6. A machine for forming a tongue porthe breast line, and a tion theheel end of a sole while on a shoe, comprising, backing means extendinginwardly to provide inside edges supporting the sole peripherally onboth sides and back adjacent the sole margin and the breast line andback thereof to and around the end of the tongue portion to be formed,and means for cutting through the sole margin normally against theinside edges of the supporting backing at the ends of the breast lineand along lines extending from the breast line to and around the end ofthe tongue portion when the sole is so supported.

7. A machine for forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, a backing die extending inwardly to supportthe sole peripherally on both sides adjacent the sole margin and thebreast line and back to a point defining the end of the tongue portionto be formed, and a cutter positioned to cut through the sole marginnormally against and inside of the die, said die'and cutter havingco-operating cutting edges extending outwardly along the breast line andback from the breast line toward the end of the sole when so supported.

8. A machine for forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, a backing die extending inwardly to supportthe sole peripherally on both sides and at the back adjacent the solemargin and the breast line and back to and around the end of the tongueportion to be formed, and a cutter positioned to cut through the solemargin normally against and inside of the die, said die and cutterhaving co-operating cutting edges extending outwardly along the breastline and back from the breast line to and around the end of the tongueportion when the sole is so supported.

9. A machine for forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, a pair of relatively adjustable backing dieelements extending inwardly to support the sole peripherally on bothsides adjacent the sole margin and back toa point defining the end ofthe tongue portion to be formed, and a pair of relatively adjustablecutting elements co-operating with said die elements to cut through thesole margin normally and inside of the die elements, said die andcutting elements having co-operating edges extending outwardly along thebreast line and back from the breast line toward the end of the solewhen so supported.

10. A machine for forming a tongue portion in the heel end of a solewhile on a shoe, comprising, a pair of relatively adjustable backing dieelements, extending inwardly to support the sole peripherally on bothsides and at the back adjacent the sole margin and pair of relativelyadjustable cutting elements co-operating with said die elements to cutthrough the sole margin normall and inside of the die elements, said diean cutting elements having co-operating edges extending outwardly alongthe breast line and back from the breast line to and around the end ofthe tongue portion to be formed when the sole is so supported.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures this 8th da of February,1930. ART UR J. BRAUER. FREDERICK P. WAGNER.

